WO1998040278A1

WO1998040278A1 - Safe packaging box and method for opening same

Info

Publication number: WO1998040278A1
Application number: PCT/FR1998/000447
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabrice Marchal
Original assignee: Fabrice Marchal
Priority date: 1997-03-07
Filing date: 1998-03-06
Publication date: 1998-09-17
Also published as: FR2760428A1; CA2282670A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a safe packaging box comprising side walls (10, 12, 14, 16) and end walls (26, 26') one of which at least is capable of being tilted to enable access to the contents of the box. This end wall (26, 26') is articulated on a first side on a first side wall (10), a second side of the end wall (26, 26') opposite the first side being extended, beyond a folding line (38, 38'), by a part (28, 28') forming a flap and being urged to press against the inner surface of a second side wall (12) opposite the first side wall (10) when the box is closed. Locking means (24, 24', 30, 30') are provided to maintain the flap in position for closing the box. The invention is characterised in that the locking means (24, 24', 30, 30') are formed on the flap (28, 28') and on a tab (20, 20') adjacent to the second side wall (12). The invention is useful for packaging dangerous goods such as chemical products or medicines.

Description

SAFETY PACKAGING BOX and

METHOD OF OPENING SUCH A BOX

The present invention relates to safety packaging boxes which can only be opened under the effect of particular manipulations which do not stand in the way of ease of use.

In general, such boxes are intended to contain products which may be dangerous, such as chemicals, medicines, needles, etc., and whose access must be controlled, especially with children to avoid accidents.

We have already proposed, for example in document US-A-3608 812, a cardboard box whose upper cover is provided with a lock. The lock comprises a flap pivotally connected to a wall of the body of the box, and tabs associated with the cover are intended to cooperate with the flap to reversibly lock the cover in a closed position. A slot is provided in the fold line along which the flap is articulated on the wall of the body, so that by pressing on the wall of the body, this results in a bending of the flap, the disengagement of the tongues and the release. of the lock.

Document US-A-3 971 505 also discloses a box provided with a pivoting cover at the rear of the body of the box and having a wall extending downwardly in front of the cover. An upwardly folded stop member is provided on the inner surface of the downwardly extending wall of the cover, and a stopper is provided by elastically folding out the top of the front wall of body of the box. The element and the stop device are constructed in such a way that the second engages the first to prevent movement when the cover is closed. A pressure piece is provided on the wall of the cover extending downwards so that it faces the stop device. It is defined by cutouts and a connecting portion between them serves as a sealing device.

Document DE-G-94 14858 also discloses a box of the same kind as that of the previous document, having two covers articulated by one of their sides on the body of the box, the side of the cover opposite this articulation being provided a flap folded back on itself, so as to cooperate with a tab extending from the corresponding wall of the body of the box, to form a stop device.

Although the boxes known from the preceding documents include a device for locking the cover, simple handling makes it possible to open them easily. They therefore do not offer the expected security as regards access to the product they contain, and can thus be the source of accidents.

Document US-A-3543995 is also known, which describes a cardboard packaging for easy handling, and which self-locks when it is closed. Nothing is planned for a later opening except to tear the packaging. Document US-A-2 928581 describes a box which can easily be opened and closed. A tongue secured to the cover cooperates with an insert glued to a wall of the box. This therefore constitutes a simple brake on opening due to the absence of a radius of curvature of the tongue, and not a locking: the opening of the box is automatic as soon as the lid is simply lifted.

The document FR-A-2658482 (which is equivalent to EP-A-0443 930) describes a corrugated cardboard packaging box generally used for packaging detergents. The problem posed in this document is that of the handle which should not constitute a discomfort when opening the box. Thus, the handle is here fixed to the cover, which comprises disengageable latching means. The snap-fastening is ensured by cooperation of the respective edges of two tabs and two tabs, while the opening is obtained by relative spacing by means of a pressure exerted centrally on the cover.

The documents FR-A-1 522 518 and GB-A-0 769941 also relate to packaging boxes that do not have a security lock.

The present invention is placed in this context and aims to provide a safety box that can only be opened under the effect of simple handling, but not immediately accessible to a person who is not familiar with such a handling, especially to a child, this box must also be simple and inexpensive to manufacture in order to meet the requirements of mass production. With this in mind, there has already been proposed in WO-A-96/22229 a safety packaging box comprising a receptacle disposed inside an external part. The receptacle comprises on only one of its sides an access hatch formed with an opening-closing tab. This box works perfectly well, but it is desirable to develop a box of this type without an interior receptacle.

To this end, according to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a safety packaging box comprising side walls and end walls of which at least one is capable of being tilted to allow access to the contents of the box, this end wall being articulated by a first side on a first side wall, a second side of the end wall opposite to the first side being extended, beyond a fold line, by a part forming flap and coming to be placed against the inner face of a second side wall opposite to the first side wall when the box is closed, locking means being provided to keep the flap in the closed position of the box.

According to the invention, the locking means are formed on the flap and on a tab adjacent to the second side wall.

According to a characteristic of the invention, a fold line is formed between the tab adjacent to the second side wall and this second side wall.

Preferably, the tab is glued, after folding to 180 degrees, on the inner face of the second side wall.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the locking means comprise at least one non-recti cut formed line on the tab or the flap and cooperating with an oblong opening formed in the flap or the tab respectively.

Preferably, the length of the oblong opening is at least equal to the distance between the ends of the non-straight line cutout.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the locking means comprise at least one non-straight line cut formed on the tab or the flap and cooperating with a second non-straight cut formed in the flap or the tab respectively.

Preferably, the distance between the ends of the non-rectilinear cut is substantially equal to the distance between the ends of the second non-rectilinear cut.

In each of these embodiments, provision may be made for lateral bellows adjoining the end walls and a third or a fourth lateral wall to ensure the cooperation of the locking means for keeping the box closed, make the box hermetic and allow relative rigidity of the end walls.

Such a box can be produced by cutting, folding and gluing a sheet in one piece, this sheet can also be reinforced, at least partially, by an additional sheet, the sheet itself be made of a material chosen from cardboard and plastics.

According to a second aspect, the object of the invention is a method of opening a safety packaging box of the type of that previously described. The method according to the invention comprises the following successive stages: a pressure is exerted towards the inside of the box on the end wall forming a flap and capable of opening, - a pressure is exerted on the parallel non-articulated side walls to said end walls tending to bring the latter one closer to the other, so as to bulge the other two side walls, and a pull is exerted on a corner of the end wall towards the outside of the box.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description of an exemplary embodiment given by way of illustration, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows a plan view of the front of a sheet intended to form a packaging box according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows an isometric perspective view of one end of a packaging box made with the sheet of Figure 1;

- Figures 3 to 6 show different stages of the opening of a box produced in accordance with the present invention, and

- Figure 7 shows a plan view a variant of the front of a sheet intended to form a packaging box according to the present invention.

The embodiment which will be described refers, without limitation, to a cardboard box. Obviously, the sheet used could also be made of a known plastic material, such as PVC. Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a cardboard sheet F, after cutting and before assembly, intended to form a box or a packaging box according to the invention. In this Figure, the solid lines indicate the cut lines and the dotted lines indicate the interior fold lines. The bonding points are marked with the references a, b, and c, and the positioning points corresponding to these bonding points are marked with the references a ', b' and c '.

The sheet F comprises a central portion R intended to form the body of the box proper intended to receive the product to be packaged, and end portions E and E 'intended to form the end parts of the body of the box and constituting the opening device thereof, these three portions R, E and E 'being in one piece.

The portion R itself comprises, in a known manner, a part 10 intended to form the bottom of the box and a part 12 intended to form the top of the box, these two parts being joined by a part 14 intended to form the lateral sides. of the box, the other lateral side of the box being formed by a part 16 adjacent to the part 10. An assembly part 18 is adjacent to the part 12, the five parts 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 being separated by four fold lines.

The end portions E and E 'each have a first tab, 20 and 20' respectively, adjacent to and on either side of the portion 12, and a second tab, 22 and 22 'respectively, adjacent to both in part 10 and in parts 14 and 16, on either side of the latter. The tabs 20 and 20 'are each formed with at least one non-rectilinear cut 24 and 24', two such cutouts being formed in the example shown. These cutouts can preferably have a shape of an arc of a circle or an oval, or form the two sides of a triangle. These non-recti lines cutouts have their concavity directed towards the central part 12.

To promote the natural lifting of cutouts 24 and

24 ′, partial sizes 42, 42 ′ can be made from the fold line separating the tab 20, 20 ′ respectively, from the part 12 over areas which are not directly opposite these cutouts 24,

24 '.

As shown in the Figures, the cutouts 24, 24 'are preferably but not necessarily extended by recesses 40, 40' to avoid the problems of overthickness in the closed position and further favor the lifting of the cutouts, the part opposite to each cut being rounded to avoid, moreover, any possible blocking of the tabs 28, 28 ′ during the push at the opening.

The legs 22 and 22 'are each formed with an intermediate part 26, 26', each being extended by a flap 28, 28 'of a width slightly less than that of the part 10 to favor the opening and closing operations. of the box. Each flap 28, 28 'has at least one recess 30, 30' each having at least one edge 32, 32 ', this edge being intended to cooperate with the non-rectilinear cutting 24, 24'. These edges 32, 32 ′ can be rectilinear, or take the shape of an arc of a circle or an oval, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or form the two sides of a triangle. These edges 32, 32 'have a length at least equal at the distance between the two ends of the non-rectilinear cuts 24 and 24 '.

Obviously, the recesses 30 and 30 'have a dimension slightly greater than that of the cutouts 24, 24'.

Finally, it is possible to provide parts 34 and 34A, adjacent both to the intermediate part 26 and to the lateral sides 16 and 14 respectively, as well as parts 34 'and 34A', adjacent to both the intermediate part 26 ' and to the lateral sides 16 and 14 respectively.

Advantageously, provision may be made for the bonding points a and b of the tabs 20 and 20 ', and / or the positioning points a' and b 'of the top 12 to be pre-glued, so that the bonding can be obtained by a simply press Tun from these points to the corresponding point.

Before the box is shaped, the legs 20 and 20 'can be folded 180 degrees around the fold lines 36 and 36' separating them from part 12 so as to stick them on this part 12 by means of the glue placed between zones a and a 'on the one hand, and b and b' on the other. This operation can also be carried out after the body of the box has been formed which will now be described.

The body of the box is formed by folding the sides 14 and 16 at right angles to the bottom 10, then folding the top 12 at right angles to the side 14. The assembly part 18 is then folded in turn. at right angles to the top 12, so that it can be glued to the side 16, by means of glue placed between the zones c and c '. According to the invention, a safety packaging box is thus obtained, one end of which has been shown in isometric perspective in FIG. 2, before the closing operation.

The box according to the present invention is then ready to be used. Indeed, it then suffices to fold the flap 28 'for example at a right angle to the intermediate part 26', around the fold line 38 ', then to fold the intermediate part 26' at right angles to the bottom 10 to penetrate the flap 28 'inside the box. Additional pressure on the intermediate part 26 'brings the convex edge of the cutouts 24' beyond the edge 32 'of the openings 30'. By releasing this additional pressure, the convex edge 24 'enters the opening 30', and thus ensures locking of the flap 28 'in the closed position. The bellows 34, 34 ', 35, 35' further promote interlocking by a spring effect due to folding.

The same operation is then repeated for the flap 28, after having previously placed in the box the product to be packaged, possibly accompanied by a notice of use or of warning or of dosage in the case of a medicament.

From the above explanations, it will be understood that spontaneous or accidental opening of the box is not possible. Indeed, when the box is closed, and that, for example, the flap 28 'is arranged inside the box, the intermediate part 26' being perpendicular both to the bottom 10 and to the top 12, the convex edges cutouts 24 'are located inside the openings 30', and thus maintain the flap 28 'inside the box. In addition, the edges 35 and 35 'of the parts 34 and 34A, 34' and 34A 'act as a spring, maintaining the flap 28 'in the immediate vicinity of the inner face of the top 12, thus ensuring the locking of the box.

It is therefore clear that an opening of the box by a simple press on the sides of the box is also not possible. In fact, if a user presses on the side 12, the fact that the convex edges of the cutouts 24 'are inside the openings 30', combined with the action of the edges 35 'of the parts 34' and 34A 'prevents an untrained user exerts traction on the intermediate part 26 ′ to open the box.

To open the box according to the present invention, it is however necessary to carry out the simple maneuvers, but not immediately accessible for an uninitiated user, such as a child, and shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 3 to 6.

The user must first exert a push on, for example, the intermediate part 26, towards the inside of the box, as shown in FIG. 3. This operation results in causing it to come out, in a direction parallel to the plane. from above 12, the convex edges of the cutouts 24 outside the openings 30.

The user must then exert pressure on the lateral sides 14 and 16, tending to bring the latter closer to each other, as shown in Figure 4 and to slightly bulge the other two sides 10, 12. This operation has as a result of moving away, in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the top 12, the convex edges of the cutouts 24 'of the openings 30', and at the same time from the edges 35 'of the parts 34' and 34A '.

The user can then exert traction on the corner 38 between the flap 28 and the intermediate part 26, as shown in FIG. shown in Figure 5, to unfold the latter and thus open the box to access its content, as shown in Ta 6.

The parts 34, 34A, 34 'and 34A' also play the role of bellows making the whole of the box airtight by preventing any access to the contents of this box, and they also allow relative rigidity of the intermediate parts 26 and 26 ', thus making unauthorized opening operations of the box more difficult.

When the user wishes to close the box, he replaces the product in the box, then he just has to introduce the flap 28 in the box, so that the convex edges of the cutouts 24 return to cooperate with the openings 30 to lock the flap 28 in the closed position.

Advantageously, provision may be made for a thin plastic sheet to be glued to the cardboard sheet F, in order to avoid tearing the cardboard during repeated use of the box. In addition, such a thin plastic sheet glued to cover the fold line 42, 42 'and the cutouts 24, 24' makes it possible to further promote the lifting of these cutouts and to reinforce their resistance to tearing.

A safety box has therefore been produced which can only be opened by the application of pressure on an intermediate side of the box, followed by compression of the lateral sides of this box adjacent to this intermediate side, and traction on this intermediate side. Any other manipulation does not open the box, which prohibits access to the contents of the box for children and people not familiar with the handling of the box according to the invention. Such a box is therefore particularly well suited for the packaging of potentially dangerous products, such as chemicals, medicines, pins, thumbtacks, matches, etc.

In addition, the box according to the invention has better crush resistance than conventional boxes. This relative rigidity of the sides allows the box to keep its shape and, therefore, participates in the main safety function.

Finally, such a box can be closed, but without the advantage of security, if it has been opened by tearing off.

There is shown in Figure 7 an alternative embodiment of the sheet of Figure 1. In this Figure 7, the elements identical or equivalent to those of Figure 1 bear the same reference numbers, optionally increased by a hundred. We see in this Figure that the openings 30 have been replaced by cutouts 130, also not straight.

These non-rectilinear cutouts 130 have their inverted concavity relative to that of the corresponding non-rectilinear cutouts 24 so as to ensure their perfect cooperation. For this purpose, the non-straight cuts 24 and the non-straight cuts 130 are preferably made so that the distance between their ends is substantially equal. Provision may also be made to form a fold 132 between the ends of these cutouts 130, so that the convex edge of these cutouts can be slightly removed from the concave edge and thus cooperate more effectively with the non-rectilinear cutout 24.

The implementation of this variant is identical to that which has been explained above. The main difference is the fact that the locking in the closed position is obtained by the interpenetration of the concave edges of the non-rectilinear cuts 130 and 24. The maneuvers necessary for opening the box produced with the sheet of FIG. 7 are identical to those which have been described in relation to the box obtained with the sheet of Figure 1.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been described, but it is on the contrary liable to receive numerous modifications which will appear to a person skilled in the art.

Thus, for example, the width, length and height of the box can be freely chosen depending on the particular product that you wish to package. It is also thus that provision can be made for the box to have only one flap capable of being fitted with a locking system according to the present invention.

Likewise, this flap may be formed with one or more than two openings, cooperating with one or more than two cutouts in the corresponding tab. Provision may also be made for the cutouts to be formed on the flap, while the openings will be formed on the folded tab under the inner face of the top.

Likewise, the box according to the invention can be provided with the alternating openings, that is to say opposite inverted, or with the lugs 20 and 22 arranged head to tail, as shown in FIG. 7.

Provision may also be made to reinforce the tabs 20 and / or the flaps 28 on which the means for forming are formed. locking, by doubling them with a lug or a counter flap, obtained in the same sheet, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 7. These reinforcements, located in the extension of the lugs 20 or flaps 28, may advantageously be pre-glued to facilitate their attachment to the legs 20 or the flaps 28, after folding along the lines 150.

Furthermore, it seems pointless to repeat the successive steps of the aforementioned method of opening a safety packaging box, a process that a person skilled in the art will have understood, it being understood that this process can be implemented with a box of a substantially different embodiment than that of the box which has just been described.

Claims

1 - Safety packaging box comprising side walls (10, 12, 14, 16) and end walls (26, 26 ') at least one of which can be tilted to allow access to the contents of the box, this end wall (26, 26 ') being articulated by a first side on a first side wall (10), a second side of the end wall (26, 26') opposite the first side being extended, beyond a fold line (38, 38 '), by a part (28, 28') forming a flap and coming to be placed against the inner face of a second side wall (12) opposite the first side wall (10) when the box is closed, locking means (24, 24 ', 30, 30', 130, 130 ') being provided to keep the flap in the closed position of the box, this box being characterized in that the locking means (24, 24 ', 30, 30', 130, 130 ') are formed on the flap (28, 28') and on a tab (20, 20 ') adjacent to the has second side wall (12).

2 - Safety packaging box according to claim

1, characterized in that a fold line (36, 36 ') is formed between the tab (20, 20') adjacent to the second side wall (12) and this second side wall (12).

3 - Safety packaging box according to claim

2, characterized in that the tab (20, 20 ') is glued, after folding to 180 degrees, on the inside of the second side wall (12). 4 - Safety packaging box according to claim

3, characterized in that the locking means (24, 24 ', 30, 30') comprise at least one non-rectilinear cutout (24, 24 ') formed on the tab (20, 20') or the flap (28, 28 ') and cooperating with an oblong opening (30, 30') formed in the flap (28, 28 ') or the tab (20, 20') respectively.

5 - Safety packaging box according to claim

4, characterized in that the length of the oblong opening (30, 30 ') is at least equal to the distance between the ends of the non-rectilinear cutout (24, 24').

6 - Safety packaging box according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking means (24, 24 ', 130, 130') comprise at least one non-rectilinear cutout (24, 24 ') formed on the tab ( 20, 20 ') or the flap (28, 28') and cooperating with a second non-rectilinear cutout (130, 130 ') formed on the flap (28, 28') or the tab (20, 20 ') respectively.

7 - Safety packaging box according to claim

6, characterized in that the distance between the ends of the non-straight cut (24, 24 ') is substantially equal to the distance between the ends of the second non-straight cut (130, 130').

8 - Safety packaging box according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that a recess (40, 40 ') extends said at least one cutout (24, 24').

9 - Safety packaging box according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that partial sizes (42, 42 ') are formed on the fold line (36, 36') separating the tab (20, 20 ') from the corresponding side wall (12) on areas which are not directly opposite the said at least one cutout (24, 24').

10 - Safety packaging box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that lateral bellows (34, 34A, 34 ', 34A') adjoining the end walls (26, 26 ') and a third ( 14) or to a fourth (16) side wall ensure the cooperation of the locking means (24, 24 ', 30, 30', 130, 130 ') to keep the box closed, make the box airtight and allow relative rigidity of the end walls (26, 26 ').

11 - Safety packaging box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is produced by cutting, folding and gluing a sheet (F) in one piece.

12 - Safety packaging box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheet (F) is, at least partially, reinforced with a plastic sheet.

13 - Safety packaging box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheet (F) is made of a material chosen from cardboard and plastics.

14 - Method for opening a safety packaging box comprising side walls (10, 12, 14, 16) and end walls (26, 26 ') of which at least one is capable of being tilted to allow access to the contents of the box, this end wall (26, 26 ') being articulated by a first side on a first side wall (10), a second side of the wall end (26, 26 ') opposite the first side being extended, beyond a fold line (38, 38'), by a part (28, 28 ') forming a flap and coming to be placed against the face inside of a second side wall (12) opposite the first side wall (10) when the box is closed, locking means (24, 24 ', 30, 30', 130, 130 ') being provided to maintain the flap in the closed position of the box, the said method being characterized in that it comprises the following successive steps: a push is exerted towards the inside of the box on the end wall (26) forming a flap and capable of open, pressure is exerted on the parallel side walls (14, 16) which are not articulated to the said end walls (26, 26 ') tending to bring the latter one closer to the other, so as to bulge the other two side walls (10, 12), and - a pull is exerted on a corner (38) of the end wall (26) towards the ex inside of the box.